Presents
Pamphlet #5146 KC2Thes1

The apostle Paul talked about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ in every chapter of his first letter to the Thessalonians.

However, even though the Thessalonians continued to remain steadfast in their faith and charity despite severe persecutions and tribulations, there remained some wavering and confusion among them and a lack of clear understanding regarding the second advent and our gathering back to Jesus Christ, which some still believed was imminent.

There were several reasons for this which Paul addresses in chapter 2.

And although there may have just been a misunderstanding of Paul's first letter, as there obviously is today among the majority of Christians, it appears there had also been an unauthorized use of the apostle Paul's name, possibly even a forged a letter "as from us" referred to in vs. 2:2, for in vs. 3:17 Paul points out that he is "authenticating" this second letter with his own handwriting so there is no doubt it came from him.

Yes, some people will go to any lengths to support their own agendas and doctrines, even by lying and using deceptive practices and devices.

That should come as no surprise to any wise person who follows either politics and/or religion today!

Actually deceptive practices should be considered carefully in these last days because one should be fully aware that artful deception can be practiced much easier, on a wider scale, and with even more believability today than ever before.

For example, the technology exists this very day to not only play video and audio sound bytes out of context to make it appear someone said something they did not (a regular practice of the mainstream media), but to actually create video and audio files that show someone being somewhere they have never been or saying something which they have never said.

Ever watch the movie "Forrest Gump"?

And did you know that you can cut and paste spoken words from an audio file at home on you very own PC just like you cut and paste written words in a document file.

Just wait until the master of deception arrives.

The question to consider is this, "Would seeing or hearing a man or woman you have trusted as a teacher speak contrary to the word of God sway you from the truth?" Hopefully not!

So in this second letter to the Thessalonians Paul is going to set the record straight once and for all concerning the events that MUST take place before Jesus Christ returns.

Not only that, but as Dr. E.W. Bullinger notes in his introductory remarks to 2nd Thessalonians in the Companion Bible, pg. 1795, "The prophecy is given in such language that the simplest reader may understand".

That was his scholarly way of saying this is a "no-brainer"!

Again, it was written to repair the damage done by false teachers, just as it should be used today to repair the damage done by the many false teachers who have come in His name (Mk. 13, Mat. 24), i.e. as Christian ministers, and espouse a different doctrine concerning the second advent than the one written in the second chapter of this epistle.

Therefore let them be your authority for those things which you choose to believe and not the words and theories of man.

It even shows in their sincere and unselfish concern for desiring to know what would happen to their loved ones who had died before Christ returned, which Paul explained in chapter 4 of his first letter to them.

Also, Paul and his companions had been praying for the Thessalonians and they were extremely thankful and overjoyed for the precious fruit that grew in Thessalonica.

He and Timothy and Silas were proud, in a righteous sense, of the Thessalonians because those wonderful folks remained patient and faithful while withstanding severe persecutions and tribulations brought about by the Jews (kenites), which you can read about in Acts 17:5-9.

It was a tough period of time to be a Christian.

Take heed!

Then too there were evidently trouble makers within and false preachers who were trying to teach the Thessalonians that the second advent was at hand.

Others, believing it to be so, refused to work and mooched off the charity of others while awaiting the Messiah. Paul will have a few words for them later on in chapter 3.

In other words, by suffering at the hands of the wicked you have proved yourself and your Father counts you worthy of the kingdom while at the same time you have become a witness against those persecutors showing just cause for the punishment they shall receive on the Day of Vengeance when the King of kings and Lord of lords returns.

As it is written, our Father is no respecter of persons, which means He is completely fair, which means His judgment is righteous, which means everyone will get exactly what they have coming to them.

Meanwhile the wicked always seem to prosper in their corruption, don't they?

But then, when it's all over at the "shouting", that is all they will ever have had.

What a shame!

Then too, never be afraid to tell it like it is.

Meanwhile, let us do as Paul instructed us in his first letter and always "follow after that which is good."

Again, it is completely fair (a righteous thing) that the wicked shall receive tribulation in return for that which they "dished out".

You know the old saying, "If you dish it out, you better be able to take it!"

You see, a person actually declares his or her own judgment by his or her own actions whether it be persecution or condemnation, etc.

That is one reason why you should always "do unto to others as you would have others do unto you" because that which you do unto others will be done unto you.

In other words, it's coming back to you!

We may suffer trials and tribulations and persecutions for a time while we dwell in these flesh bodies while at the same time the wicked may revel in their piles of gold and silver.

But know this: When the 7th Trump sounds it will be Payday for some and Paybacks for others who will receive the pouring out of His wrath.

So you might say that flaming fire will be "red hot" when He returns.

We are going to read it!

Then you can decide for yourself!

You are if you are a doer of His Word and not a hearer only.

You see, we MUST exercise the power He has given us and work our faith, because as the apostle James said, "faith without works is dead", like a dead battery, i.e. there is no power!

Stay plugged into His Word and you will always be charged up.

And let us pray for one another and edify one another and do His will.

That makes our Father so happy and He blesses us.

In other words He is so good (gracious) to us and He blesses us far beyond that which we even comprehend.

If you are one of His, just wait until you see your "resting place" (mansion) which He has prepared for you when He returns (vs. 7).

That means He has prepared a mansion, a resting place, for you!

Goodness Gracious!

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

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